The Feminist Symbol That Ruled The Golden Globes Red Carpet

You can always count on any red-carpet event to turn out a few red-lipstick looks to match, but in the context of tonight’s Golden Globes, the ubiquity of the powerful color’s presence seemed less like a trend and more like a statement. The sea of actresses in black dresses topped off with lips in shades of scarlet, cherry, and wine was more than just eye-catching: It was a movement.

For those who initially speculated that the evening’s protest would be a silent one, for better or for worse, they didn’t have much to worry about in the end. Activists appeared alongside actors, the #TimesUp mission happened out loud in real time, and the starring role of the color red was no accident — it filled in the blanks, as it has all throughout history.

Daring, expressive, self-assured, the same symbol of feminine rebellion worn by suffragettes in 1912 (as doled out by one Elizabeth Arden) reigned supreme, worn on the lips of Wonder Woman, Emma Watson, and so many more. Ahead, the actresses who showed up to the red carpet with their strength, resilience, and grit worn right on their faces for the world to see. Go ahead — read their lips.

For Jessica Chastain, makeup artist Tyron Machhausen wanted to give the “strong, fierce” actress something equally bold and powerful to complement both her black gown and the issues that, he said, are “always in the back of her mind.” So they decided on a real, strong statement red, Chanel Rouge Allure lipstick in Passion, and swept on three layers for maximum impact. “Jessica is so fierce about everything, with #TimesUp and everything women’s rights, and I thought this very intense red would just be a perfect statement for her red carpet look,” Machhausen said.

Photo: Courtesy of Chanel.

It’s only fitting that Wonder Woman herself — otherwise known as actress Gal Gadot — also chose something on the red spectrum for the night, in the form of this rich berry.

Photo: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images.

Emma Watson wore a bright poppy red.

Photo: Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images.

The perfect true matte red on Tracee Ellis Ross.

Photo: Kevork Djansezian/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank/Getty Images.

To give America Ferrera her bold yet fresh-faced look, makeup artist Vanessa Scali swept on Avon True Color Lipstick in Poppy Love with a lip brush, then blotted the color down to a sheer, natural flush.